'DeeDee' Moore Goes On Trial This Week

Saturday

Nov 24, 2012 at 10:24 PM

Dorice "DeeDee" Moore is facing life in prison if convicted as charged of first-degree murder. Lawyers are expected Monday to begin picking possible jurors for a two-week trial at Tampa's downtown courthouse.

By JASON GEARYTHE LEDGER

TAMPA | It's been three years since Abraham Shakespeare lost control of his fortune, was gunned down and buried under a concrete slab.With national media watching, the 40-year-old woman accused of masterminding the unlucky Lakeland lottery winner's demise is going to trial.Dorice "DeeDee" Moore is facing life in prison if convicted as charged of first-degree murder.Lawyers are expected Monday to begin picking possible jurors for a two-week trial at Tampa's downtown courthouse.Potential jurors will be questioned about what they know regarding this infamous murder case, which has received extensive media attention.A cable program called "In Session" plans to provide coverage of the trial.Shakespeare was a colorful local figure who won a $17 million lump-sum lottery payment in 2006.He was functionally illiterate, and, by a few years later, had spent or given away much of his winnings.Moore met Shakespeare in October 2008, and she talked to him about writing a book about his life.Several months later, Moore was in control of Shakespeare's remaining assets and accounts, according to investigative reports.Moore told investigators that Shakespeare was upset about people repeatedly asking him for money, and she offered her assistance as a financial advisor.Shakespeare was last seen alive in April 2009.Detectives asked a confidential informant to record his conversations with Moore.Reports state Moore revealed the location of Shakespeare's body, handed over a .38-caliber revolver believed to be the murder weapon, and offered $50,000 to an undercover officer to take the blame for Shakespeare's death.Shakespeare's mummified corpse was found Jan. 28, 2010, buried behind a Plant City home. He had been shot twice in the chest.In lengthy interviews with detectives, Moore denied killing Shakespeare, and said the real culprits have threatened to harm her and her family.Investigative reports state she has given different accounts of who killed Shakespeare, including an unknown drug dealer named "Ronald."But detectives concluded Moore befriended Shakespeare to steal his remaining wealth and then kill him.Moore's life has changed radically since her arrest in early 2010.She once owned a thriving medical staffing company and lived in Shakespeare's home worth more than $1 million. She now occupies a jail cell.Her physical appearance has changed drastically. She has dropped a significant amount of weight. She is no longer blonde. Her hair is dark black.Her own lawyers have questioned whether she is mentally fit to stand trial. She has expressed to mental health experts testing her that she wants to go to trial and prove her innocence.A judge scolded Moore for bringing a book titled "I Am Innocent!" to a hearing last week. He ordered Moore not to have the book present during her trial. Until last week, the prospects of Moore's trial getting under way were uncertain.One mental health expert testified Moore was incompetent because she has illogical thinking and difficulty answering questions directly.Three other experts determined she was competent to proceed, but she likely needed help staying on track if she takes the witness stand.Dr. Richard Carpenter, a psychologist, said Moore is "reasonably intelligent." He described Moore as "high energy," "talkative," and "distractible."Circuit Judge Emmett Lamar Battles ruled that Moore's trial could go forward.The judge also made another big decision. He ruled jurors could hear more than five hours worth of recordings of Moore talking to detectives.Battles listened to the recordings during a hearing that lasted past 9 p.m.The judge scolded Moore for nodding, shaking her head and crying when the recordings were played. He warned her not to display such behavior when jurors are present.Moore apologized profusely and agreed to keep her composure at her trial.

[ Jason Geary can be reached at jason.geary@theledger.com or 863-802-7536. ]

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